Signature-handling mechanism.



B. R; KAST. SIGNATURE'HANDLING MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED APR.,5, 1913.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

dling Mechanism,

FFlCE,

EDWARD R. KAST, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SIGN ATURE-HANDLIN G MECHANISM.

To all whom t'tzmag concern v Be it known that I, EDWARD R. KAsr, of Baltimore, Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in SignatureHanwhich invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention relates to signaturehandling mechanism, and particularly to mechanism for assembling and insetting sigm natures to form books or pamphlets.

In my application Serial No. 745,97 3, filed Feb. 3d, 1913, one important feature is the provision above the-saddle. of supporting members on which the signatures are either manually or mechanically deposited and from which they are removed onto the saddle by suitable means (usually pins) carried by the conveyer which moves along the saddle. The object of these supporting 2e means was to insure accurate alining or friction between the heading up of the signatures on the saddle, it being pointedout that if the signatures aredeposited directly on the saddle or on signatures carried by the saddle, the deposited signaturesand the saddle, or the deposited signatures and the signature or signatures on which they -are deposited, would be so great as to prevent the perfect alining of the various so slgnaturesof eachgroup; whereas if each ment with the pin,

' tion between the si 4a mg members, the tormer can be readily rethey donot remain so 56: the fact that the signatures are entirely su signature is deposited on a supporting mem ber above thesaddle from which it can be readily removed when engaged by the pins on the conveyor, it will be in proper engage- I and therefore properly alined when ill-falls on the saddle or on the grou of signatures with which it is inset.

ile, owing to the small amount of fricnatures and the supportmoved from said supporting members onto the saddle, and while, when the signatures are first deposited on, the saddle, they are properly alined, it has been experienced that alined as the groups of signatures are progressed along the saddle. This is due to the fact that the frict-ion isvery great between the innermost sig-' nature of each group and the saddle, due to ported by the saddle; and, even though t e siatures are alined when they are first Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April5,19'l3. Serial No. 'zsfarze.

removed from the supporting members onto the saddle, this friction causes each innermost signature to he combed out, or, in

Patented Jan. 6, 191a.

other words, to get out of :alinement with theother signatures of the group, and to be crowded against the signature-engaging means that progresses eachgroup along the saddle. Unless, therefore, the si natures of each group areagain headed up or alined, beforethey are stitched, the innermostsignature of each group will project slightly. from the other signatures, and even though the books are trimmed,the printed matter on the pages will be out of registenj The object of the present invention is to present this combing out of the innermost signatures, and to insure that the sig natures of each group are continually maintained in alinement. This is efiected by practically eliminating the friction between the saddle and the signatures, so that, as the signatures are removed from the sup porting members, they are alined by the pins or other signature-engaging means carried by the conveyer, and maintained in alinement. v

The invention will be better understood byreference to the accompanying drawing 0 which is a detailed perspective of one expression of the inventive-idea.

Referring to the drawings, whereinlike reference numerals indicate like parts, 10 is a support, here shown as a saddle, along which groups-ox" inset signatures are progrossed preferably to the mechanism for stitching the same, and preferably to mechanism for automatically delivering the same. At its open, this saddle is provided with an opening onsslot' 11, under which travels a suitable carrier orconveyer, here shown as a chain 12. Secured to this chain 12 at regular'intervals are a plurality of signatureengaging means, here shown as pins 16, said I pins projecting upwardly through slot 11 far enouglptoengagethe edge ofthe signatures tlfat'are deposited, either mechanically or manually on signature-supporting means, here shown as fingers or strips 17 ,which are preferably adjustably mounted on bracliets '18 secured to any suitable part of the frame of the machine 19. e

Heretofore, the first signature removed from each finger or strip 17, of which any suitable number are provided directly above the saddle 10, by the pins 16, has fallen directly upon said support or saddle, practically the entirefsurface of each leaf. of the signature being in intimate contact with its 119 the group, but, due to the large amount of respective face ofthe saddle. 'Eachsucceeding signature, asvi't wasv removed from the finger or supportl? bythe finger 16 onto its appropriate-* signature already resting on the saddle, would be templorarily headed up or alined with the ot er signatures of frict on between each innermost signature and 'thesaddle, said signature would be combed out, or, in other words, would get out of alinement with the signatures deposited thereon, said innermost signature .beingv crowded against its pin 16. Unless, therefore, the groups of signatures were headed .up o1 alined before they. were stitched, the innermost signature Of the book or pamphlet would slightly project beyond the other signatures of the book or pamphlet, thuscausing the printed matter on the pages toibe out of register.

I have discovered that the solution of the tion between each innermost signature of dle 1 0, bYiFsaid-elements or projections do not extend upwardly as far as the signature-.-

each group andthe saddle by the provision,

between the fingers 16, of means carried by the conveyer n12, projecting upwardly through the slot 11, on which means the signatures which are removed'from the fingers or strips 17 by the pins 16 are deposited, said means engaging the inside of the fold of each innermost signaturef By reason of the fact that these means project above the saddle, air can freely pass between said innermost signatures and the saddle,with the result that said saddle acts simplylto hold the signatures open,.and to guide them as they are moved along to the stitching mech,

anism. Preferably, the means on which the signatures are deposited are a plurality of signaturesupporting elements or projections20 secured to the chain 12 and projecting upwardly through the slot 11 in the sadengaging means or pins 16. The provision thatany tendency of said innermost signatures to move longitudinally 10 will be resisted by the engagement therewith of the plurality of points of said projections. It will be understood, however, that thesignatures may be deposited upon signatures are pro such projections 20 has the advantageof the saddle any other suitable means which will maintain the inuermostsignatures in proper relation to the support or saddle.

While, for the purpose of clearness, one embodiment of the inventive idea has been herein described and illustrated in detail,

it is apparent that the invention is not restricted to the particular structural embodiment which is illustrated and described, but. that it is susceptible of embodiments conforming to the definition of theinvention given in the claims which follow. What is claimed is '1. In combination, a support said saddle on which supporting member signatures are-deposited, a conveyer mov- 7 or s'add1e' along which groups of slgnatures are con-' veyed, a supporting member arranged above able along said saddle, supporting means carried by said conveyer and projecting above said saddle, and signature-engaging. means carried by said conveyer and removing the signatures from said supporting member onto said supporting means carried by the conveyer. V p

2. In combination, a support or saddle along which groups of signatures are conveyed, a supporting member arranged above said saddle on whlch supporting member signatures are deposited, a conveyer mov- "able along said saddle, a plurality of projections carried .by said conveyer and projecting above said saddle, and signature-engaging means carried by said conveyer'and removing the signatures from said supporting member'onto said' plurality of elements carried by the conveyer.

3. In combination, a support or saddle along which groups of signatures are conveyed, a supporting-member arranged above said saddle on which supporting member signatures are deposited, a conveyer movable along said saddle,'a plurality of pins carried by said conveyer and projecting above said saddle, and signature-engaging means carriedby said conveyer and remove ingthe signatures from said supporting member onto said plurality of pins carried by the conveyer.

4. In combination, a support or saddle along which groups of signatures are conveyed, a plurality of supporting members arranged above said saddle on which supporting members signatures are de osited, a:

conveyer movable-along said sadd e, a plu rality of pins carried by said conveyer and projecting above the saddle, and a pluralit-yof signature-engagin means carrie by said conveyer removing t e signatures from said supporting members onto the pins carried by the conveyer. v

5. In combination, a support along-which groups ot signatures are conveyed,- e supporting member arranged above said sup' port, on which supporting member signtures are deposited, a conveyer movable along said support, supporting means carried by said conveyer and engaging the signatures above said support, and signatureport, on which supporting member signa tures are deposited, a conveyer movable ,Disciai mer inteitetsPatent.No.l.083,617

along said support, supporting means movable with said conveyor and engaging the signatures above said support, and. signatum-engaging meansxcarried by said con-" veyer and removing the signatures from said supporting member onto said supporting means movable with said conveyer.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD It. KAST.

Witnesses:

.W. B. KERKAM, RALPH L. Soo'rr.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G."

Enters this disclaimer- (Ofiioz'al Gazette May 4, 1915.)

DISCLAIMER.

No. 1,083,617 .-Edwwrd R. Kast, Baltimore, Md. SIGNATURE-HANDLING MEoHAN- ISM. Patentdated January 6, 1914;. Disclaimer filed April 28 1915, by the inventor and assignee, The East Insett'ing and Gathering Machine Company,

" To claims 1, 2, 5, and 6 of said Letters Patent. 

